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FITCHBURG -- Scott Malboeuf admits he's having a blast.

The Monty Tech girls' basketball head coach is watching a seldom-talked-about program go from unknown to respected in only two years.

His Bulldogs play hard, support one another and battle to the end every single night. These Bulldogs have become winners in a short amount of time under their second-year head coach.

Monty Tech was 7-13 last season, losing seven games by six points or less. This year, the Bulldogs are already playoff bound 10-5.

"We didn't know how to finish off games and win last year," said Malboeuf, whose JV program under the guidance of Steve Strange is undefeated on the season. "This year they learned how to win and close out games."

This hard-working group has learned during all the wins -- they posted seven straight victories at one point -- and even during the current three-game losing streak.

"I knew we'd run into a tough spot sooner or later," Malboeuf said. "Teams have found our weakness. They are getting back into a zone, and we haven't been able to get out and run the way we want."

But they're not hanging their heads. These Bulldogs continue to fight and learn from their mistakes.

That's what Malboeuf expects and respects.

"They are not giving up and they are pressing on," Malboeuf said. "They are learning how to move the ball and find an open person. The good thing about struggling is that they are learning to read the defense and understand how they are playing you.

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They've come a long way and are learning every day."

Monty Tech practices the way it plays: hard.

"We've been going six days a week," Malboeuf said. "They just keep working. Other teams are gassed in the fourth quarter and we still have good legs.

"We run a lot in practice. Nobody is asking for breaks. The kids don't miss practice, either. They love the game."

Monty Tech's resurgence has been fueled by two solid freshmen from Sterling in point guard Emily St. Thomas and center Erica Regan.

St. Thomas is a flashy point guard with tremendous range from 3-point land. She leads the team by averaging more than 10 points per game.

"Emily is like the Energizer bunny," Malboeuf said. "She's got a good shot, runs the floor well and is one of our better defenders. You can't teach the work ethic she has."

Regan, according to Malboeuf, has worked hard over the last two years to become a much better player.

The 6-footer is averaging more than eight points per game.

"She's a great rebounder and she handles the ball very well as a big," Malboeuf said. "She's long and plays good defense."

The veteran leadership is supplied by senior captains Xena Tejada and Megan Skinner, as well as junior Maddie Russo.

Russo is a three-year starter and plays the off-guard position.

"Maddie is a big sister to Emily and I don't think she's missed a practice in three years," Malboeuf said. "She's a leader by example."

Skinner, a center, averages eight points per game is a strong presence in the paint.

"She's the muscle in the middle," Malboeuf said.

According to Monty Tech coach, Tejada is "a mood setter."

"She's a ball of sweat after every practice and every game," he said. "There's no quit with her. If there's a loose ball on the floor, she'll find it."

Brianna Babineau and Becca Mackie are two senior guards who specialize in shooting from the perimeter.

"If they are open, they are good shooters from the outside," Malboeuf said. "They are going to be a big part of our success going forward."

Make no mistake, when the Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders, they are grabbing rebounds and running immediately.

"We have girls who can run the floor," Malboeuf said. "We can outrun most teams in transition. A lot of our success was on the defensive side and then into transition. That turns into fast-break layups and quick points."

These playoff-bound Bulldogs haven't surprised Malboeuf, he says.

"I felt we could get to 10 wins, so I'm really happy with that," he said. "Even our losses, we've been in every game, so they know they can play with anybody."

The Bulldogs are hungry to keep on winning.

The next mission is to secure a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

"We want to be playing at Monty Tech for the first district game," Malboeuf said. "That's our ultimate big goal."

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